Illusory apparatus



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

A. LAKE. ILLUSORY APPARATUS.

No. 523,357. Patented July 24, 1894.

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(No Model.) 2 sheets-Sheena A.' LAKE. ILLUsoRY APPARATUS.

No. 523,357. j n Patented July 24, 1894.

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l Nrrn- STATES AMARIAH LAKE, OF PLEASANTVILLE, NEW JERSEY.

ILLUSORY APPARATUS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 523,357, dated July 24, 1894.

Application filed February 19, 1894. Serial No. 500.652. (No model.)

To all whom it. may concern:

Be it known that I, AMARIAH LAKE, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Pleasantville, in the county of Atlantic and State of New Jersey, have invented new and useful Improvements in Apparatus for Producing Illusory Eects, of which the following is a specification.

rlhis invention relates to means in the nature of devices that produce illusory effects. The objects of which are to provide means by which people may have the enjoyment, as if riding at great Speed over hills and through tunnels and storms, in absolute safety.

In the accompanying drawings, in which the same letters and numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts Figure 1 is a plan view of an illusory apparatus constructed in accordance with myinvention. Fig. 2 isa longitudinal vertical section on the line x 0c Fig. l showing the car and entrance between the curtains. Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the frames and curtains showing gear attachments and other devices. Fig. 4 is a section of car with truck. Fig. 5 is a plan view of the revolving room. Fig. 6 is a side view of the revolving room. Fig. 7 is a cylinder. Fig. 8 is a view of curtain roller.

A, represents the inclosure, house or room.

B, is a portion of said inclosure partitioned off for a waiting room.

C, is a room with doors (back of room B) and contains a revolving room C2, with doors a.

D, is a hall in the rear of rooms B and C in which the car D2, is arranged.

E, isa hall in which the tracks b, and curtains C3, are located forming the tunnel in which the car runs as shown in Fig. 2.

The frames d, in Fig. 3, are bolted to the upright frames e. Near the ends of the frames d, boxes d', are arranged to hold the rollers f. At one end ofthe frames the boxes are adjustable and move by means of screws, as shown at g. Intermediate rollers f2, are provided which revolve from friction of the curtains (which may be made of any suitable material) and tend to keep them in line with the end rollers f. The curtains when made of canvas have attached to their upper and lower inner edges, stout ropes that fit in grooves l in the rollers. At distances of about four feet slats of wood or other suitable material are fastened to the curtains as shown at h. On the lower end of each slat a small wheel 2, is arranged which projects below the lower edge of the curtain and rests on the board h2, and with the grooves l, in the rollers f, Fig. 8 keep the curtains in position with any speed required.

At the front end, the guide boards h2, drop or incline as shown at h4, and adjust the curtain should the rope from any canse leave the groove in the roller. The small frames or slats J,support the guide strips J and serve to keep the curtain in line.

The curtain is revolved by means of a shafting, pulleys and belting attached tothe rollers as shown at K, or may be driven by gear or any known device.

K2, is a belt shifter and serves to start and stop the curtains. K3 over the car in Fig. 2, is a corresponding shifter which connects with belt shifter K2, in Fig. 3 when the car is between the curtains and by means of the cord K4 operated by the conductor, stops the movement of the curtains when desired. The tracks b b are laid in line with the wheelsof the stationary truck L2, and are separated directly over the said Wheels and allow the wheels of the car D2 to rest on the wheels of the stationary truck when run in the hall E, between the curtains C3. The stationary truck wheels may be connected together by means of chain or sprocket wheels or gear and driven by a belt or gear from the pulley K. Under the stationary truck L2, a loose or idle truck n, is arranged with one or more lugs fh. attached to the rims of the wheels and are brought in contact with the truck wheels L by means of the lever o. Between the curtain frames anddirectly over the car (when in position in the hall E,) is a large perforated pan P. WVater is let in from a reservoir by means of several spigots q, connected by the rod q and cord q2, under control of the attendant.'

The car rests on a pivot on the cross-beam,

as shown at o" in Fig. 4, and held rigid by y means of the latch s. Vhen the car is run ICO ing pulleys V attached to the room and back around the room over pulleys Z Z' on a post Z, each end of the cord having weights Z2 attached, which hold the cords tight and cause the disks X and cylinders Y, to revolve when the room is turned. It required more cords may be used, each cord turning its number of disks and cylinders, the disks X serve as shutters to the openings X2.

The cylinders may be glass or any suitable materialpainted orstainedandstripedspirally as shown in Fig. 7. When hollow and of glass a light may be suspended in the centers as shown in Fig. 7. Images or pedestals may be substituted for cylinders. The room C2 may be turned by means of ropes or belts passing around its base and over guide pulleys-to the driving pulleys, as shown at M- Fig. 6.

`In an apparatus constructed as described the passengers enter the revolving room, Fig. 1 at the doors a, and a', which are then closed; the room then is revolved which causes the cylinders and disks to revolve in an opposite direction to that of the room, which movement detracts from the circular movement of the room and causes the passengers when v they enter l[he room D, through the doors a2 to be mystified as to their position. The passengers then enter the car D2, at the doors 0.4 which are then closed, the doors a5 being also closed. The car is set in motion and moved into the hall E, contacting with the beltshifter K2 and starting the curtains which revolve in an opposite direction from that of the car. As the car stops on th'e stationary truck L2, the conductor turns on the light in the car as it has become dark from having yentered the hall E, and the wheels being kept in motion from the friction of the stationary truck wheels, a small groove across the face or rim of the wheels of the stationary truck imparting jolts similar to those made by the uneven joints of the rails on an ordinary railroad. The lever ,has been disconnected from the latch S, as shown at S2. The attendant by moving the levert, up and down gives the car an undulating movement as if ascending and descending steep grades, and the passengers not knowing that the car has come to a standstill are subjected to the illusion that, they are traveling at a rapid rate. The lights may be tu rned down at dierent points on the supposed journey to represent tunnels for the amusement of the passengers. The loose or idle truck n, is brought in contact passes over the eaves of the car down between the car windows and curtains, whereatrough may be arranged to carry it away. Shot or other suitable material may be substituted for water. When the car is supposed to have alight at the door a6 completely bewildered.

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In an illusory apparatus a revolving room, the car, an endless traveling belt arranged exterior of the car and adjacent thereto, and adapted to move in a horizontal direction to create the illusion of a movement of the car.

2. In an illusory apparatus the combination with the car and its stationary truck, of a truck arranged under the stationary truck, and wheels on the latter truck, formed with projections or lugs on their rims, substantially as and for the purposes specified.

3. In an illusory apparatus, the combination with a car,traveling-curtains exterior to and adjacent to the car, and a revolving room, substantially as described.

4. The combination of the car, the traveling-curtains, the revoluble room' C2, and rotatable cylinders in the room, substantially as described.

5. The combination of the car, the traveling curtains, the revoluble room C2, rotatable cylinders in the room, and revolving disks in said room, substantially as described.

G. In an illusory apparatus, the combination of the traveling apron, the slat frame secured to the apron, and having the vertical slats extended downward, wheels journaled in the lower ends of the slats, the grooves in the curtain rollers and rope supporting the curtains and a track having the ends inclined substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

In testimony whereof I aix my signature in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

AMARIAH LAKE.

Witnesses:

T. F. BOARDMAN, T. MARLOW.

larrived at its destination the passengers i 

